THE defeat sustained by our Nine last Saturday has been the subject of frequent conversation, and various are the causes to which it is ascribed. It is not a fit time we think for moralizing, and saying that our training has been insufficient; nor is it fair to say, as many do, that our Nine is not as strong as Yale's. We must not lose heart for the rest of the series because we have been beaten in the first two games. Both of these games were played under peculiarly unfortunate circumstances; Fessenden was greatly missed in the first game, and Tyng's absence in the second was irreparable. It is unnecessary for us to praise Howe's playing; the noble way in which he did his work has been recognized and appreciated by all of us. But had he played a thousand times better, Ernst would still have lacked that perfect confidence in his catcher that comes only from long working together. To this lack of assurance, rather than to any other cause, is to be attributed the number of base-hits made by Yale. That we were beaten fairly and squarely by far superior batting is an undeniable fact; yet, after the brilliant games played by our Nine with other clubs, and with the prospect of having Tyng's services in the next game, we ought not to despair for the future.